Felt like a dog with head out the window....

I've been cooped up for so long, it was nice of my master (Jey-hu is not really, but on this day it felt like it.) to take me for a drive in the country. On this particular day, it was sunny - a good start! And it was warm, another good point! And the drive was going to be up around the Loop Road so it would take at least three hours to complete - yippee!! Just like a dog, I had my window down and was sniffing the air for the smells of spring... some were not my kind of smell, but if I'd been a dog, they certainly would have been appealing.

We did this same trip last year about this time, and it was a whole lot warmer then. Curiously enough, in spite of it being warmer, there was more snow still on the ground. However, this year it was clear there has been significantly more snowfall for the month of April at the higher elevations and the mountains looked like an ice cream sundae with whipped cream and sprinkles on top. Big Four Mountain, previously mentioned in this blog (see May of 2009) is shown above.

These little pink flowers were just budding out in the area where the mountain paths begin. We

opted not to make the climb, and just as were concluding that decision and looking around, someone said, "Look, they are now charging a $5 usage fee PER PERSON in order to spend time here!" I am sure the government can justify the demand for funds, but when people are out of work, and want to drive a short distance to enjoy Mother Nature, it seems criminal to charge them something to get some relief from the pressures of the commercial world. This means that a family of four will spend $20 to park there for the afternoon plus gas and food... and there are no provisions for families with small children. Did you know the definition of PERSON is "1. A human being. 2. An entity (such as a corporation) that is recognized by law having the rights and duties of a human being." [Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Ed.] But the definition of 'human being' is not even found in that edition of Black's! One has to go to Ballentine's Law (not sure of date but think it is about 1895) to read that a 'human' is one having the "characteristics of man," and no where in there is it defined as to what a 'human being' is. So I would return any ticket issued to me with the pleasant request that they submit it to the corporation as it is not my responsibility as I am NOT a person. Well. We didn't stop in any event.

We drove on - and I am sure you are glad of that - and found a perfectly serene little spot with a rushing river, lots of rocks and moss and wonderful photo ops. It was kind of dark in the woods, so I tried to use my photo software to lighten this one up... it has a sort of artistic sense to it, it seems to me. I might publish a few more in the next installment.

This stop was also where I found some flowers called "skunk cabbage" in bloom, but I don't believe this is the latin term for these bright yellow and green plants.

They are most generally found where it is damp or literally "swampy" and they supposedly have a "stinky" smell, but I must have been too entranced by their design and color to notice.

When Jey-hu and I are out "shooting" together, we challenge one another to get a "money shot." This kind of shot is the one we both agree could be a postcard or poster or used in some advertising, not shots we actually put into commercial use. So

this last one is my money shot of the day. You are seeing the mountain range called the Cascades, north of Mt. Pilchuck and Mt. White Chuck. It was taken around 3 p.m. PDT, just before leaving the river behind and riding higher in the canyon on the end of the loop road, we were headed into a small town near Arlington, Washington.

And this was a good thing, too, because like most creatures kept in a car for too long, I was longing for relief...

Eat at MONGOS

I'd never heard of it. They don't advertise on the airwaves, but through the "hair" waves - ear to ear, mouth to mouth - and along with providing "to-go" packaging that is 100% biodegradable, what they put in it is 100% edible, too!

Jey-hu said he had "heard about it, and it's supposed to be good," so being irritable and hungry I was ready to go almost anywhere. And because he's the son of a naturopathic /chiropractic doctor, he eats the best he can when he's away from the healthy stuff I feed him... not counting his weakness for chocolate.

Hidden in a small strip-mall, behind a gas station, on Route 9 between the Snohomish River and the hill known by locals as "Seattle Hill," is this charming, upbeat, "take-out" or eat-in or even (yippee!) catering food service place called MONGO'S . Just click on the link and take a look at some of dishes Chris can whip up - yum! His wife, Shannon, said they used to own The Paragon up on Queen Anne's Hill in Seattle, but sold out in 2007 and started up here in 2008, "all by ourselves."

One of their signs in the window said, "Life's too short to eat boring food." And that theme was carried out in the specials for the day and the regular options.

MONGOS offers such a diverse menu it was hard to choose, but I went with the Filet Mignon Sliders (mini burgers to the out-of-towners) and french fries. Jey-hu chose the Philly Cheese Steak and fries (Hah - we're like that couple who have matching Hawaiian shirts: Filet and Philly). We never had to eat dinner that night. I was still in some kind of food hypno state due to the abso-fan-tastic fries - obviously done in fresh

oil and just the right amount of crunch and color - next time I come here I will take more pictures of the food!

For those of you who are unfortunate enough to live too far away to sample MONGOS now, when you make plans to visit the great Northwest, you can get off SR 522 (going N) at the Route 9/ Woodinville exit and it's about 20 minutes up and over Seattle Hill, just before the new stop lights at the flats. For my Everett and Lake Stevens readers, it's a quick trip south on 9, across the river and the flats, up on the right just after the lights - on your way to Costco...

Did I mention that Chris has over 30 years "in the business" and that creme brulee was on the dessert menu? Did I also mention that their prices are very fair and if you tell them what you want or need ahead of time, they will prepare it for you? Ever heard of fish tacos? Sigh - love da MONGOS!

The cherries are ripe!

Today I could finally begin picking the cherries off the tree that hangs over our deck. The birds have already started enjoying them and I could see places where they had pecked (instead of picking!) off the fruit, leaving only the seed.

When Jey-hu got back from working, he and I managed to collect about four pounds and after pitting them all, I cooked them. As lovely as they looked, they were toe-curling sour! With enough fructose I was able to pull a little sweetness from them and made a cherry pie and some cherry crumble. I don't have my favorite "Fanny Farmer Cookbook" to build these desserts, but did pretty well from memory.

Jey-hu told the neighbors to come over and help themselves as there is easily another eight to ten pounds of fruit to be enjoyed. When we had to run an errand later, and while I was waiting for him, I caught this pretty sunset in Snohomish, which is about five miles from where we live. A few nights ago we joined some friends for a Mexican dinner alongside the Snohomish River which is a pretty wide waterway that flows right into Port Gardiner Bay, which connects to Puget Sound. Here is a picture of the Bay that I took earlier in the week.....